Iranian Embassy Siege Sas Team. John mcaleese led the black clad sas team which blew its way into the iranian embassy in london s south kensington overlooking hyde park on 5 may 1980 to free hostages held by an iranian. Sas hero who played a key role rescuing hostages in the 1980 iranian embassy siege dies aged 71 after a battle with cancer.
The iranian embassy siege took place from 30 april to 5 may 1980 after a group of six armed men stormed the iranian embassy in south kensington london the gunmen took 26 people hostage mostly embassy staff but several visitors and a police officer who had been guarding the embassy were also held. Sas hero who played a key role rescuing hostages in the 1980 iranian embassy siege dies aged 71 after a battle with cancer. It was an event that brought together two significant trends of the 20 th century the growing importance of specialist units such as the sas and the increasing prevalence of news media directly reporting on military action.
Tom macdonald was drafted in to help rescue 26 embassy staff and visitors.
Tom macdonald was drafted in to help rescue 26 embassy staff and visitors. Tom macdonald was a key member of the elite special forces team drafted in after the. After the sas team stormed the embassy live on tv they killed five dissidents from the democratic revolutionary front for the liberation of arabistan a group opposed to ayatollah khomeini s rule. On 5th may 1980 the special air service sas stormed the iranian embassy in london ending a six day siege.
